Kim Kardashian is addressing the controversy created recently over a non-Photoshopped image of her that accidentally appeared on Complex magazine’s website. The original photo was quickly replaced with a retouched version a few hours after it was posted, but not before it was seen and copied by many.
So what is Kim saying?
“So what, I have a little cellulite. What curvy girl doesn’t!? But you know what, who cares! How many people do you think are Photoshopped? It happens all the time!”
Kim, who is well known for her curves, says she is happy with her body. She even posted the before and after shots in her own blog.
She goes on to say,
“This picture coming out is probably helpful for everyone to see that just because I am on the cover of a magazine doesn’t mean I’m perfect.”
So what do you think about photoshopped magazine covers? Are they a form of art? Is it healthy to portray “fixed-up” photos to the masses? Are they contributing to the body-image dillemas of our culture? I know what I think (we’ve touched on this topic before). I want to hear what you’ve got to say!
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I think there’s a fine line between “touching up” a photo to perfect it, and then totally altering a photo beyond belief. I wish that the former was more frequently done.
Airbrushing photos is such an act of deflection in hiding reality… it would be nice if we saw more REAL bodies. And I really think that everyone could benefit if there was a little note on every airbrushed photo SAYING that it’s airbrushed, just as a reminder. But good for her for taking such a positive attitude towards it all!
I do photography myself, even though I’m not doing magazine covers or any such thing, but there is another dimension to this phenomenon, which I rarely see mentioned in this discussion. That is, almost everyone are unhappy with photos of themselves. The reason for this is that the eye looks so differently on a picture compared to real life. Often I retouch pictures of someone, and things stick out and get noticed in ways they don’t when you see or interact with the person, not even after you’re aware of them. So up to a point, I would say retouching is needed to show someone the way they are perceived, rather than the way the camera catches them. That being said, removing so much as to turn a person into some kind of alien or plastic doll is going too far.
The airbrushed and photo shopped stuff is silly! let’s see it like it is…yes? Our kids don’t need to strive for something that is not real. My take anyway!
I wish they wouldn’t tweak things they way they do, it gives people unrealistic expecations for themselves.
It doesn’t look like cellulite to me at all, it looks like leg veins, either way, I am glad she responded the way she did.
I have been photoshopped myself a few times, and I have to admit, I liked how I looked! I do think that photoshopping is part of the reason why women have body issues though. Everyone likes to look thier best in photos, but when some young girls look at those pictures and think that is the way they are suppose to look, there lies the problem. Good for Kim to embrace her body and be comfortable with who she is. Thanks for posting this!
I agree that they should have left the photo alone. I’m glad Kim “owned” her cellulite.
I am glad Kim responded the way she did. Unfortunately, I think airbrushing is here to stay. Just another reminder not to compare ourselves to images in the media. In fact, it’s a good idea not to surround ourselves with too many images of “perfect” bodies in the first place. If nobody looks at the airbrushed bodies, will there be as big an incentive to airbrush everything???
Great responses all!
MW – good point. I am taken back to my grade school days, when I absolutely dreaded “picture day” because I hated the way that the camera caught my nose at a funny angle, adding shadows in funny places, making me feel even more self-conscious than usual for a gawky pre-teen.
Anyway, I think as VeggieGirl said, there is a fine line… and maybe disclaimers should be mandatory, like on a package of cigarettes.
“CAUTION: Hazardous to your mental health. Realize this is basically a ficticious body, made to look like the person you think you recognize in this photo.”
I am being sarcastic and a bit silly here, but the bottom line is, I am glad to see that more models are coming out and openly talking about their flaws, so that women, pre-teen and adult alike, are becoming more aware that they too have blemishes and cellulite and wrinkles or whatever, just like everyone else.
Three Cheers for Kim! I will always cheer on those who will let truth stand for itself. The body issues that seem to be just a “normal” part of socialization these days are contributing to believing the lie, living the lie & perpetuating the lie. In this time of awakening I say it is not art. Calling it art is part of the lie. It’s a difficult line to draw since make-up & clothing all feed into the same “lie”. It is my hope that we can do our part to help bring more light & truth to the planet so that more of us can begin/continue to wake up.
I’m more than happy to second those remarks, pal.
Nice article on Kim Kardashdian. I will come back again to read your new stuff.